This post might include affiliate links for products that I know and LOVE! By using these links, you help support my blog and give me the opportunity to create awesome free content as I receive a small percentage of each purchase. Please know that your price never changes and that every opinion expressed is my own! Thank you for your support! 🙂

My Bread and Butter Refrigerator Pickles add a nice crunch to salads, burgers, and sandwiches. They’re also a FP so they’re extremely versatile.

My sweet neighbor gave me a bag of cucumbers and I needed to use them up. Aside from cucumber salads, I like pickles, especially sweet, bread and butter pickles. I wanted to create a THM version that was simple, yet could compare to the sugary variety.

I asked my neighbor his advice for homemade pickles and he gave me a few tips, which I used to make sure that these pickles passed the test. What test? Well, my husband grew up with homemade pickles. His grandma and grandpa make the best pickles I’ve ever had. I was excited to have him try my version. I knew he’d tell me the truth because the man knows his pickles! His response was, “Wow! These are good! If you could jar them, you’d be winning!” I think he meant can. If I could somehow preserve the pickles in a jar, we’d all win. 🙂

This post is a bit longer than my other ones. Because this was my first time making pickles I wanted to document it with lots of pics and more step-by-step instruction than I usually give.

These pickles aren’t an exact replica of store-bought bread and butter pickles, but they are a wonderful substitute. 🙂

Then, cut the cucumbers into slices. You want 4-5 cups of cucumber slices, depending on how strong you want your pickles to be. More pickle slices = less brine per slice. You don’t want to cut them super thin either, about like I show in the picture is correct.

Put the slices in a bowl and pour 1 T. of Mineral Salt (or Kosher Salt) over the cucumber slices. Stir to combine and put in the fridge for an hour.

Take the cucumbers out of the fridge and rinse the cucumber slices well under cool water and drain. Slice one medium onion thinly. Add to the cucumber mixture.

Stir and place in the fridge. Let the cucumbers soak up the brine for at least 24 hours, preferably more. You can store these pickles in a container with a lid. My neighbor thought they lasted about a month, he said they’d get “squishy” when they went bad.

Note: I didn’t use dill seeds, celery seeds or any other “seed” things you find in pickles because I wanted to keep it simple. If you have those things on hand, feel free to add them. 🙂

Sprinkle salt over sliced cucumbers and place in the fridge for one hour. Take out, rinse well under cold water and drain. Place the onion slices with the cucumber and stir to combine. Pour the brine over your cucumber and onion mixture. Let the brine and vegetable slices soak until the brine has cooled to room temperature. Place in the refrigerator for 24 hours at least. Enjoy!

This post might include affiliate links for products that I know and LOVE! By using these links, you help support my blog and give me the opportunity to create awesome free content as I receive a small percentage of each purchase. Please know that your price never changes and that every opinion expressed is my own! Thank you for your support! 🙂

I saw a Pumpkin Crunch Cake floating around Facebook and I knew I had to convert it to the THM side.

This cake is one of a kind. It features a pumpkin pie filling on the bottom and a crumble topping that is to die for. I kept it a little lighter by using THM Baking Blend. It has nuts and a bit of butter, so it needed some sort of calorie cutback. 🙂 I’m over here feeling like I hit gold with the filling. I think I found my new favorite on plan pumpkin pie filling! I’m really excited to take this dessert to any Fall time potlucks and family gatherings. I think this is the type of dessert that even those who aren’t on plan would love.

My little ones had so much fun making this cake. They were able to add things to the mixing bowl and of course, lick the batter. I love being able to include them in my work. It makes for a wonderful bonding time. A few of you have asked how I record my recipes and the answer is simple. I just write my recipe on a notecard, sometimes before I make the actual recipe and sometimes during. I have lost a note card before, so maybe I need a new system!

This recipe makes a full 9×13 inch pan. I found that one square was satisfying with some coffee (of course! #Momlife!)

Preheat oven to 350. Grease a 9x13 inch pan. Mix all ingredients together and spread in pan.

Crumble Topping

Mix dry ingredients together and sprinkle over the pumpkin filling. Pour melted butter evenly over top. Bake for 1 hour. Your filling should be set, like a pumpkin pie and your topping should be lightly brown. Enjoy!

This post might include affiliate links for products that I know and LOVE! By using these links, you help support my blog and give me the opportunity to create awesome free content as I receive a small percentage of each purchase. Please know that your price never changes and that every opinion expressed is my own! Thank you for your support! 🙂

I saw a leaf falling in my backyard while I was playing with my sons, so obviously, it’s time to start pumpkin everything. 🙂 Last year, I created my Crock-Pot Pumpkin Spice Latte, which is a HUGE pot full of PSL. A lot of you had fun taking this treat to your Fall get togethers, but you wanted a single-serve version. Totally understandable.

This version is awesome because it’s easy. I’m not a Drive-Thru-Sue at heart, I’m actually more of a Frugal Franny (making your own ingredients, etc), but the more Drive-Thru-Sue hacks I bring into my life, the better I am able to stay on plan. So maybe Sue and I have a lot more in common than I think. 😉 This recipe makes one big mug of latte goodness. I recommend blending all ingredients for the smoothest result. Blending it also gives it that coffee-shop foam that makes drinks seem fancier. This is a THM:S drink.Not into coffee? I’m coming out with an oolong based PSL next week, it just needs some tweaks.

Note: I used MCT Oil to cut down on the cream. If you don’t have MCT oil, feel free to use 1 T. Cream instead. There is a little protein in this drink, but as always make sure your snacks and meals are anchored in protein! 🙂

This post might include affiliate links for products that I know and LOVE! By using these links, you help support my blog and give me the opportunity to create awesome free content as I receive a small percentage of each purchase. Please know that your price never changes and that every opinion expressed is my own! Thank you for your support! 🙂

I can think of a few times in my life where I felt overwhelmed deep down to my very soul. Financial struggles make up the majority of those times. The worst season was when my husband and I were newlyweds, I was very sick during my first pregnancy and unable to continue my job duties. My husband was a factory worker, as he only had factory experience, which is great if you don’t live in a town where every single factory is slowly closing. We went from one job to another, barely getting our feet on the ground before the next layoff. It was an endless cycle that left us discouraged. I remember being so downtrodden I could hardly get out of bed. When your situation consumes you, it can be very hard to speak truth into your life. You need voices of others to speak that truth over you, which is what I hope to be today. 🙂

Your Worth is Not Dependent on Your Income

Or in other words, you are not your financial struggle. Your finances make up a very small part of who you are. They don’t determine your smile, your wit, your talent, your creativity or your heart. Your worth is ultimately dependent on what Jesus did for you and who He is through you. Your ministry is also not dependent on your income. While giving financially is important, your talents and hospitality are just as needed. You can still encourage others, open your home, or just simply be there for someone. So, though it may be hard, separate your finances from yourself.

God is Always Up to Something

God is always up to something. He’s always working to set things straight, even when we can’t see it. If you think back on past victories, I’m going to take a wild guess and say that you weren’t able to tell the day things started to turn around until the storm passed. We rarely do. It’s only when we think back over a season that we can say, “Wow! THAT was the thing that set change in motion. THIS was the moment!” Try to take a few moments each day to recognize God’s blessings and your perspective will change.

This Season is So Small in Light of Eternity

Whenever life gets to be too much, I like to take a step back and think, “Ok, in light of eternity what does this look like?” The truth is, even our lives on earth are short compared to an eternity with Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:17 says, “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,” It might seem like the end of the world, but it is most likely a season.

Stay Faithful in the Small Things

I’m going to be honest. When life starts to go downhill, I have to fight for the desire to stay in the Word and pray. I have to make a deliberate decision to honor God. Even though I don’t want to, I need to be faithful. Even in the small things. Luke 16:10 says, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” Choose joy, stay in God’s Word, praise him in advance for what He’s going to do and stick close to Jesus. God will honor that.

Surround Yourself with Positivity

Fill your life with uplifting songs, encouraging books and sermons. There will be some people who are discouraging during this time (there’s always one!) but lift your eyes higher than those, take what they say with a grain of salt and replace any hurts with God’s truth. I found so much peace in reading blog posts from other ladies who had been through what I was going through. There’s so much comfort in knowing you’re not alone. One of my favorite bloggers during that time (and now!) is Erin Odom from The Humbled Homemaker. She gives money-saving tips while providing encouragement. She just wrote a book that I had the privilege of reading called, “More Than Just Making It”.

This book is Erin’s telling of her personal story of financial struggle. She’s transparent, if you’ve been there you’ll know no detail is exaggerated or made small. This book was so encouraging to my heart and I believe it will encourage your heart as well, because not only do you see Erin’s struggle but you also learn what led to her victory. She shares her best tips for budgeting, eating well on a tight budget, purchasing things second-hand and more. The actions she shares are practical, I found that I could immediately use many of them.

This book also shaped my heart and helped me have more compassion on those who are struggling. It helped me look for “Kisses from Jesus” in my own daily life and I now see more of His mercies each day. I wish I had this book at the peak of my financial struggles. It would have made a world of difference! I’m so grateful that there is now a resource like this available. I highly recommend this book to any Mama, not just those struggling financially. Learn more about the book here. If you order before September 5th, there are so many awesome pre-order bonuses. You get over $220 worth of bonuses including:

This post might include affiliate links for products that I know and LOVE! By using these links, you help support my blog and give me the opportunity to create awesome free content as I receive a small percentage of each purchase. Please know that your price never changes and that every opinion expressed is my own! Thank you for your support! 🙂

Overnight oats have been such a lifesaver this Summer. What’s easier than mixing a few ingredients, putting it in the fridge and waking up to a nutritious breakfast? Not much, friends. Not much. I’ve been playing around with different combinations of overnight oats and besides my Blueberry French Toast Overnight Oats, these Cinnamon Roll ones really take the cake. I personally only eat cold overnight oats during warmer months (weird because I’m an iced coffee all year ’round girl!) so I HAD to come up with at least one more variation before my overnight oat season ends. 🙂

I made this recipe similar to my hot Cinnamon Roll oatmeal, adapting it for overnight oats. The result is an almost pudding like texture with all the flavors of a cinnamon roll, without all the work. I find that this breakfast is satisfying thanks to all the protein that the Greek yogurt has. I like to triple this recipe and have enough for a few breakfasts. This recipe is single-serve, however. If you’re feeling fancy, feel free to make the optional Greek Yogurt “icing” to really amp up this recipe.

This post might include affiliate links for products that I know and LOVE! By using these links, you help support my blog and give me the opportunity to create awesome free content as I receive a small percentage of each purchase. Please know that your price never changes and that every opinion expressed is my own! Thank you for your support! 🙂

I’ve been obsessed with Jen Hatmaker’s book, “For the Love” since it came out. I was so happy that I had the opportunity to review her latest book, “Of Mess and Moxie”. Of Mess and Moxie follows the same format that I loved in her previous book. A collection of essays, some funny, some heartfelt and all memorable. Jen Hatmaker’s humor is probably the thing that makes her one of my favorite bloggers. She’s sarcastic and reminds me of Lauren Graham’s character Lorelei on Gilmore Girls, which is only one of the best shows. Ever.

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I loved Jen’s essays on motherhood. They made me laugh out loud. My husband seriously wondered what was up when I was reading this book. I admire how Jen lives life lightly, even though she’s had a lot of troubles in her life. She really inspires me to lighten up and trust God. Her wisdom is priceless. She shares deep truths about God and identity that really make you think. I loved getting a glimpse into her family life, learning about their traditions, the different personalities of her kids and even their favorite recipes. She’s transparent, which isn’t something that is too common these days.

This is a book that has an honored place on my bookshelf. I’ll refer back to it over and over again. My only wish is that there were even more essays to read!

This post might include affiliate links for products that I know and LOVE! By using these links, you help support my blog and give me the opportunity to create awesome free content as I receive a small percentage of each purchase. Please know that your price never changes and that every opinion expressed is my own! Thank you for your support! 🙂

Many times, when we consider starting a healthy eating plan we can also plan on spending a bit of extra money. One thing I like about Trim Healthy Mama is that it works with you in every season of life. For many of us, frugal ingredients are key. Our grocery budgets need us to keep it simple and rely mainly on ingredients that we can find in our grocery stores. Trim Healthy Mama is totally doable on a tight budget!

I’ve found that there are usually a few items that remain affordable over time. Oatmeal, rice, beans, berries, ground turkey, chicken, and bananas are so versatile and can add a lot of bulk to your healthy diet. Lately, eggs have been priced well, so I’ve included them in this roundup. This roundup takes those frugal ingredients and gives you some recipes and meal ideas to jazz things up. My blogging friends and I are no strangers to using these ingredients and it’s actually fun for us to find new ways to use them! We hope this will inspire you and help you keep your families eating healthy, even on a tight budget. I’ve also added a few links to help you save even more money at the very bottom of this post.

Oatmeal

Oatmeal is under $3 for a HUGE container in my area. I use it in its traditional form for granolas and breakfast oats. I also make my own flour by grinding it in my blender. Use a handful to bulk up a ground beef dish (no one notices a handful of oats in tacos or meatloaf!). There are so many different things you can do with oatmeal on the THM plan.

Beans

Canned beans are usually under $1 a can, or you can get the most for your buck and get dried beans. I find that dried beans actually aren’t as much work as you’d think, especially if you make them in an Instant Pot. Throw beans on top of an “E” friendly salad, in your “E” tacos and more to add bulk and healthy carbs.

Rice

Brown rice is under $1 a bag or under $2 if you choose the instant kind from Aldi. Rice can be heated as a quick breakfast option with some cinnamon and sweetener, thrown in “E” friendly salads or tacos, soups, etc.

Eggs

Okay, eggs aren’t cheap all the time. I know they had a spike in price last year, but they’ve gone back down to a beyond reasonable price. Many of us are lucky enough to have egg laying hens around, so eggs were worth a mention. Use eggs for breakfast in traditional egg dishes, lunch on top of a salad or do breakfast for dinner!

Chicken

For the first few years I was married, chicken was literally the only meat I bought because it went so far and was so affordable. I still use chicken as the meat source for most of my meals. One of my favorite tricks is purchasing a whole chicken when it’s $1 a lb or under and shredding the meat for a few meals and then using the bones for a quick one pot stock.

Need More Money-Saving Tips? Check this out!

Don’t forget to hang out with me on Facebook, where you’ll regularly see deals and money-saving hacks! If you sign up for my email list below, you’ll get a free eBook that shares EVEN MORE ways to save money on healthy food.

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This post might include affiliate links for products that I know and LOVE! By using these links, you help support my blog and give me the opportunity to create awesome free content as I receive a small percentage of each purchase. Please know that your price never changes and that every opinion expressed is my own! Thank you for your support! 🙂

“I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com) to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links.”

I’m always on the lookout for healthy snacks for my toddlers. The problem is, what I deem healthy they often deem inedible. The struggle to find a clean snack is real! I’m grateful for snacks like Veggie Go’s. Veggie Go’s was started by two people who have a HUGE passion for organic, real food. They cultivated that passion into a unique line of snacks. Veggie Go’s have no added sugar, are gluten-free and each snack contains ONE serving of fruit and vegetables. The ingredients are pure. Apples, Beets, Spices, Chia seeds and more are blended together to create a delicious fusion of flavors. You’d think you were eating a sugary treat. Many snacks made purely of whole ingredients can taste bland or bitter, but not Veggie Go’s!

Veggie Go’s are organic and they are reasonably priced at under $1.50 a package. The price tag makes it easier to feed your littles something healthy. My little ones absolutely loved their snacks and gobbled them right up. We received Veggie Go’s strips which are like a fruit leather and Veggie Go’s Bites, which my littles compared to a fruit snack. We tried wonderful flavors like Orange, Cocoa Nibs, and Carrots, Chia + Beets, and Berry, Rice Crisps and Greens. Our favorite was Berry, Rice Crisps, and Greens because the crunchy rice bits were fun! The texture of these snacks is good, not at all hard and leathery. We are already huge fans of Veggie Go’s and plan on ordering more very soon! You can order Veggie Go’s on Amazon or purchase them at stores like Whole Foods.

Learn more about Veggie Go’s by visiting their website, or following them on Facebook!

This post might include affiliate links for products that I know and LOVE! By using these links, you help support my blog and give me the opportunity to create awesome free content as I receive a small percentage of each purchase. Please know that your price never changes and that every opinion expressed is my own! Thank you for your support! 🙂

Beth Moore has written many iconic books that have transformed lives, my favorite being “Get Out of That Pit”. This book is actually ten years old, so it got a new cover! I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review, all opinions are mine.

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I think the reason why I love this book is that it’s thorough and straightforward. Beth talks about all types of pets, ones we put ourselves in and ones that others put us in. Some of the pits she mentions are ones we might not even know we’re in. The book is based on Psalm 40, where the author speaks of being lifted out of a pit and being placed on a rock. Beth gives you solid advice for putting the past behind you and getting to that great, joyful place in life again. She bases everything on Scripture, so you’ll find plenty of verses to aid you in your study.

Beth’s style of writing includes comedic relief and I love all the girly details she includes. I think this book is a wonderful resource for anyone struggling to get out of a pit or who is curious to see if they have something hindering their life. You’ll gain so much inspiration from this book. The presence of God is all over the pages!

This post might include affiliate links for products that I know and LOVE! By using these links, you help support my blog and give me the opportunity to create awesome free content as I receive a small percentage of each purchase. Please know that your price never changes and that every opinion expressed is my own! Thank you for your support! 🙂

It’s been pretty hot in Iowa. So hot, that I really don’t feel like firing up my oven mid-day. The other day, I wanted something different than my usual hot-weather fare of salads and sandwiches, so I created this cold pizza. It’s refreshing, fits whatever you have on hand (What’s up the day before grocery day?!) and it’s easy to throw together. The only slightly complex step is toasting your pita if you choose to go that route.

This recipe is single-serve, but I’m thinking this would make a great, fun lunch for my toddlers. I plan on whipping up a larger batch of my delicious cream cheese spread and putting out some ingredients so they can make their own. My Mom used to do something similar for my siblings and me when we were little and we absolutely loved making our homemade “Lunchables”. For my cold pizza, I used lunch meat, cucumber, and some peppers. Feel free to use whatever you have on hand: tomatoes, broccoli, ham, cheeses, bacon, zucchini. The possibilities are endless.

Hi, I’m Cate!

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